Productive performance of Acheta domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) under four dietary regimens
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v18i1.6512Keywords:
edible insects, cricket, alternative protein, feeding substrates, insect farmAbstract
Introduction: Given the growing interest in entomophagy as an alternative food source in Costa Rica, the production of A. domesticus represents an opportunity for the development of innovative production systems. Its consolidation requires the optimization of technical processes under local conditions and the evaluation of strategies aimed at increasing production efficiency and scalability. Objective: We evaluated the productive performance of A. domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) under four dietary regimes in the dry tropics of Costa Rica. Methods: We conducted the research at the UCR Santa Cruz Experimental Farm (Guanacaste) from October to December 2024. We evaluated four diets for A. domesticus using a completely randomized design with six replicates. After 56 days, we collected the specimens to quantify weight (fresh and dry), densities, and volumetric yields through thermal shock sacrifice and dehydration at 35°C. We analyzed the data in RStudio using Shapiro-Wilk, Levene, ANOVA, and Tukey tests (p ≤ 0,05). Results: We harvested 12 965 individuals with a balanced sex ratio (51% female, 49% male) and no significant differences between diets. The dietary regime significantly affected population growth and biomass, where dog food (D2) proved to be the least efficient. In contrast, diets for hens (D1), tilapia (D3), and chickens (D4) formed a superior and homogeneous group with the best productive parameters. Conclusions: Diet does not affect the sex ratio of A. domesticus, ensuring system stability. However, nutrition is key to yield: poultry (D1, D4) and fish (D3) concentrates are highly efficient and statistically superior to dog food (D2). This homogeneity among the leading treatments offers producers the flexibility to select inputs based on cost and regional availability without sacrificing productivity.
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